扉页

  从六尘的领受或不领受来定义内识与外识,能领受六尘的识是识阴等六识,这六识都只是住在胜义根中,只能领受内六入,不能直接领受外六入,所以是只能住在五阴中的内识。但是从来不领受内六入的本识住胎识,却可以藉五色根来直接触受外六尘,所以名为外识;但这外识却不会了知及领受内、外六尘,只是藉外六入直接变生内六入给内识(六识)来领受,所以名为外识。

  《阿含正义》第五辑

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  The internal or external consciousness is defined by whether it can perceive or not perceive the six sense-objects. The six sense-consciousnesses, or consciousness skandhas, are the consciousnesses which can perceive the six sense-objects, and only reside in the inner supreme sense-organs; they can perceive only the internal six-entrances, not the external ones directly, and therefore they are the internal consciousnesses which can only reside in the five aggregates. However, never perceiving the internal six-entrances, the basic consciousness, or embryo-dwelling consciousness, can touch the external ones directly through the five sense-organs instead, and thus it is called the external consciousness. Nevertheless, the external consciousness can not understand and perceive the internal or external six-sense-objects, but only transforms the external six-entrances into the internal ones directly for the internal consciousness (six sense-consciousnesses) to perceive, so it is called the external consciousness accordingly.

  The Correct Meanings of “The Agama Sutras”, Vol. 5

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